About the programme
The Master of Science in User-Centered Design is a fully online degree from Brandeis Online (formerly Brandeis GPS), offered through the Rabb School of Continuing Studies. It is aimed mainly at working adults and approaches UX through psychology and human behaviour more than visual design.
The 30-credit degree has seven required courses: user experience design, human factors psychology and ergonomics, information architecture, research methods, design ideation and prototyping (or AI for human-centred design for students starting from spring 2027), design operations and leadership, and a capstone. Students then pick three electives from UX topics or from project management, analytics and leadership courses.
Practitioners teach the courses, and the school describes classes as small and seminar-style. The required capstone produces a full portfolio piece, and students can take an optional for-credit internship course.
- Format
- 100% online, full-time or part-time.
- Length
- 30 credits (10 courses). The school says students finish in one to two years.
- Cost
- $1,220 per credit in 2025-26, or $36,600 for the 30-credit degree. Some courses have a $25-$100 materials fee, and books are extra. Tuition is reset each academic year; the 2026-27 rate was not posted when checked.
- Admissions
- Rolling admissions with five start dates a year, and decisions usually within a week. You need a bachelor's degree, a resume, a statement of goals of at least 500 words and one letter of recommendation. The recommended English minimums are TOEFL 100 and IELTS 7. No GRE or portfolio is required.
- Capstone
- A required capstone course (RUCD 190) that brings research, design and strategy together into a portfolio piece.
Who it suits
Suits working professionals who want a flexible, research-led online UX master's they can start at several points in the year. If you want in-person studio work, a campus cohort or a student visa, look elsewhere.
Checked against Brandeis University’s official programme pages in October 2026.
